Thread: TX - Deaths of immigrants skyrocket in Valley

Deaths of immigrants skyrocket in in Valley
Posted: 03/04/2009 12:00 CST/04/2009
Lynn Brezosky

BROWNSVILLE — Although the number of unauthorized immigrants who died trying to cross the border declined everywhere else last year, it soared in the Rio Grande Valley.

The statistics have led Mexican officials to conclude that increased Border Patrol presence has channeled migrants to the Valley's most dangerous river and brush routes.

While notoriously rugged U.S. Border Patrol sectors such as El Paso and Tucson and Yuma, Ariz., saw a marked decline, the number of deaths in the Valley grew by 72 percent last year.

Statistics kept by Mexican consulates show 67 deaths in Hidalgo, Starr and Brooks counties and 22 deaths in Cameron and Willacy counties, compared to 39 deaths and 18 deaths respectively in 2007.

The tallies count bodies recovered on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande that aren't recorded by U.S. officials and do not include bodies with identification from Central America or other places.

The Tucson consulate, which covers a part of the border that's now about 80 percent fenced, recorded 116 deaths in 2008 compared to 166 in 2007 — a 30 percent decrease.

The Yuma sector, now almost entirely fenced, had one death in 2008 as opposed to 13 in 2007 — a 92 percent decrease.

The numbers fluctuate widely over the years and differ slightly by consulate. By far, the Tucson consulate has recorded the most deaths — about 1,020 over an eight-year period.

The McAllen consulate saw the death toll top 40 in 2001, 2003, and 2006 for Hidalgo, Starr and Brooks counties. But 2008 was the deadliest in recent memory, spokeswoman Miriam Medel GarcÃ*a said.

“What we're thinking is that people decided to cross from this part of the border because they think others are more dangerous,â€

[quote="FedUpinFarmersBranch"]
“All the authorities are going to argue that it has decreased because of their efforts,â€